Rebirth of L.C. Ward
FWCS to transfer Ward building to Neighborhood Health
By Fredrick McKissack
Of Fort Wayne Ink Spot
The efforts of several organizations, neighbors and elected officials representing southeast Fort Wayne have given life to L.C. Ward Education Center, a near century-old structure that has been idle for three years. Rather than demolishing the building at a cost of $243,000, Fort Wayne Community Schools has agreed to give the property Neighborhood Health which will use the Warsaw Street structure as a health care and educational facility for the community.
The FWCS Board of School Trustees will consider a resolution at a future meeting to transfer the property to Neighborhood Health at no cost, saving the District $243,000 in demolition expenses.
“The rescue of Ward provides an opportunity for additional investment in an area that has seen minimal spending,” said City Councilwoman Sharon Tucker in an email. “I am hopeful this will be the spark needed to increase private investment.”
Neighborhood Health CEO Angie Zaegel said she was “incredibly grateful to Fort Wayne Community Schools and everyone who came together to ensure the survival of this historic structure.” The building will be a resource and will be an important health hub for the community.
Neighborhood Health has staff and services prepared for the space almost immediately as it expands medical, dental, vision and behavioral health care to the area. Neighborhood Health is also exploring options to add pharmacy services and serve as a healthy food resource. The organization plans to work closely with neighborhood and community groups to determine other potential uses for the remaining space.
“This building will play a critical role in expanding and strengthening our ability to deliver comprehensive, quality health care regardless of socioeconomic status,” said Zaegel. “It is well positioned to fulfill our vision of building healthier communities, closing the gaps in health disparities, and inspiring hope, healing, and encouragement to the lives we touch.”
While the Oxford Neighborhood Association was thanked in a press release for its contribution in keeping the school from being demolished, its president, Diane Rogers, said the announcement caught her by surprise. She’s pleased the building is going to Neighborhood Health and commented on its long-time commitment to southeast Fort Wayne.
“But it is troubling that this just popped up,” she said. “It’s well-intentioned, but at least they could’ve reached out and said, ‘Hey, this is what we want to do,’ and ask for our [input.]”
Health Crisis
The announcement came just weeks after Parkview Health and Alliance Health Center announced its plans to open at a clinic at 2700 Lafayette Avenue. And it comes at a time when COVID-19 put health disparities and access to care in sharp focus.
According to data available from the City Health Dashboard (www.cityhealthdashboard.com), the 46802 and 03 neighborhoods are suffering health care problems and premature death at rates higher than their neighbors.
Based on the database’s numbers, the average life expectancy for a person living in the ’02 is 73; in the ’03 it's 66.9 years. Compare that to the life expectancy in the ’07, within walking distance, which is 79.3 years.
The dashboard also shows the ’02 and ’03 having higher than national average rates in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and “frequent physical distress,” a measure aimed at capturing the percentage of the population experiencing persistent and likely severe physical problems over 14 days.